Book-support



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

G. H. HAY. BOOK SUPPORT. N0. 544,170.v Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

INVENTOH (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

G. H. HAY. BOOK SUPPORT.

No. 544,170. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

EETE

PATENT CHARLES HENRY HAY, OF CARMI, ILLINOIS.

BOOK-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,170, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed March 13, 1895. serial No. 54 1 (NO model-l To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LCHARLEs HENRY HAY, of Carmi, in the county of White and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Book-Support, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved book-support more especially designed for supporting large bookssuch as court-records, abstracts, lodgers, and the likein such a manner that the open book has the top leaves at a level.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement with part in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevationof the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the counterbalancing beam-frame and locking device, and Fig 4 is a perspective view of the shelfbearing.

The improved book support is provided with a frame A, formed at its middle with trunnions B, journaled in suitable bearings 0, attached to the bottom of a desk D or other convenient support on which the device is applied.

On the free ends of the beam-frame A are arranged transverse pins A A adapted to engage bearings E and E respectively, mortised in the under side of the shelves E E, respectively, placed a suitable distance apart to permit of inserting the back of a book between the shelves, the covers resting on the said shelves when the book is opened and the back of the book passing onto a fabric material E connecting the adjacent sides of the shelves with each other. Now, it will be seen that as the shelves E E are mounted on a counterbalanoing beamframe A, the latter will swing down at the end containing the heaviest part of the book, so that the top leaves of the open book will always stand at a level. It will further be seen that when the book-leaves-are turned over and one side becomes heavier than the other the loaded shelf will swing downward until the frame is perfectly counterbalanced.

In order to lock the shelves with the books supported thereon in any desired position, I provide the frame A at one end with a segmental gear-wheel F, adapted to be engaged by the toothed head G of a rod G, mounted to slide longitudinally in suitable bearings arranged in the desk D. A spring H, pressing on the rod G, serves to hold the latter, with its head G, in contact with the segmental gear-wheel F. A bell-crank lever I engages with one arm the said rod G, so as to permit the operator in charge of the device to press the rod G outwardly against the ten sion'of the spring H to move the head G out of engagement with the gear-wheel F. For this purpose the other arm of the bell-crank lover I extends through an opening in one side of the desk D to permit the operator to conveniently manipulate the said bell-crank lever I, for the purpose above mentioned. A catch 1 may be employed to lock the lever I in position at the time the'rod Gis moved outward and the head G is disengaged from the gear-wheel F. In order to make the desk as shallow as possible, I provide the bottom of the desk with an opening for the lower end serve to hold and at the same time adjust the shelves E E to a level position without tilting the shelves when either end of the beamframe A is raised or lowered.

' Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A book support, comprising a counterbalancing beam frame, shelves held on the free ends of the said frame, and a spring pressed locking device adapted to look the said frame in any desired position, substantially as shown and described.

2. A book support, comprising a counterbalancing beam frame, shelves held on the free ends of the said frame andplaoed a suitable distance apart, a locking device for lock- 4. A book support, comprising a counterbalancing beam frame, shelves held on the free ends of the said frame, a spring pressed locking device adapted to engage said frame and hold it in position, and links pivotally connected at one end with the said shelves and at the other end with fixed pivots below the trunnions of the beam frame, substantially as shown and described.

CHARLES HENRY HAY.

Witnesses:

J AS. W. DOUGLAS, T. W. HAY. 

